Towing Comparison With Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Part 2 - 2015 Ford F-150 Long-Term Road Test

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Towing Comparison With Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Part 2 - 2015 Ford F-150 Long-Term Road Test

Our long-term 2015 Ford F-150 is well-equipped for towing heavy loads. But is it stronger or more efficient than our other long-term workhorse, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel?

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grijon

Good info, Josh; thanks for posting this.

agentorange

Standing by for the "Gas is King" trolls. ;-)

ebeaudoin

Very interesting. As much as I love the new F-150, if I were towing very often, the EcoDiesel is a tempting proposition. Just the way you describe it as more of an effortless, drama-free experience in the Ram sounds quite nice.

allthingshonda

The Ram has no problem towing because it's towing capacity is the same as the gas V6 powered Chevrolet Colorado. You have to wonder why Ram has such a low towing capacity for a diesel powered full size truck. Why does Ford's tiny turbo V6 have a higher towing capacity? Why does can the smaller less powerful Chevy Colorado have the same towing capacity as the Ram?

s197gt

rear coil springs on the ram. well known to provide a better ride but less towing ability.

an apparent ford fanboy explaining the difference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMDQ8Yl7Ndk

allthingshonda said:

You have to wonder why Ram has such a low towing capacity for a diesel powered full size truck. Why does Ford's tiny turbo V6 have a higher towing capacity? Why does can the smaller less powerful Chevy Colorado have the same towing capacity as the Ram?

pat911

Thanks for these detailed write-ups, but I see a problem. You guys seem to be far exceeding the Ram's rated payload. The payload for your truck appears to be 1,073 lbs (CVWR of 6,950 - Curb weight of 5,877). But if you're towing a 6,000 lbs trailer, that's approximately 600 lbs of tongue weight (using the 10% rule). Then if you're putting another 500-650 lbs in the bed, plus the driver and two passengers, you are way over the Ram's rated payload of 1,073 lbs.

To add it up, you're looking at 600 lbs tongue weight + 500 lbs bed payload + plus driver & two passengers (I'll very generously say 150 lbs/person for a total of 450 lbs) = 1,550 lbs. And if the people or the bed payload is heavier (which they probably both are), you're exceeding payload by even more.

These Ecodiesel's may pull effortlessly, but they have notoriously low payloads due to their high curb weight and low GVWR. Based on what you guys have been pulling, it seems to me that you're exceeding the rated payload in the Ecodiesel on a regular basis.

escape23

DEF is expensive as is the super expensive maintenance schedule on the Ecodiesel. No thanks, i'll stick with the Ecoboost and $40 oil change and no def over $85 DEF fills and $250 oil changes.

stanlaurel

DEF is $2.75/gal at truck stops. On my Ecodiesel, it's a 7 gal tank that needs to be filled every 10,000 miles or so. Under $20 every 10K miles. Where you get your $85 claim is a mystery. Try not smoking crack before you do math. Also, if you are a certifiable idiot, you don't get the dealer to add in free oil changes when you purchase the vehicle. Since I'm not an idiot, I have 10 free oil changes with my truck, and at 10K mile intervals, that takes me to 100,000 miles with no cost. Then I will do it myself. And guess what? I don't have to put up with the dreaded choice: "Eco" or "Boost" since I know you don't get both at the same time. So enjoy your bouncy, truck-riding F-150, and be content with the knowledge that there's only 1 truck out there that is superior.